Petey Podcast
Petey Podcast puts the professionals and partners of the Elyria Schools at your fingertips. Tune in for casual conversation and expert commentary on matters of education and student well-being, and keep with us for your regular dose of Pioneer positivity!
Episodes
128 episodes
Summer on Stage
This episode of Petey Podcast delves into a beloved summer tradition that’s been shaping young performers in Lorain County for decades. We’re joined by Lorain County Children's Pioneer Theater Director, Maddie Riley (a preschool teacher with El...
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Season 4
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Episode 130
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56:58
A Hometown Hero's Fitness Mission
In this episode of Petey Podcast, we sit down with a former standout Elyria High School football player, Tracy Sprinkle, who rose to play at The Ohio State University, and has now returned to Elyria with a powerful mission. Hear his journey fro...
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Season 4
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Episode 129
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42:59
Champions with a heart for the game, and for each other
Join us for a courtside conversation with Elyria's middle school basketball coaches, Head Coach Kyle Rospert, and Assistant Coach Tavon Kurtz, and Athletic Director Mat Siwierka, as they reflect on an unforgettable season. Their seventh grade t...
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Season 4
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Episode 128
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33:50
Robotics Rising
In this episode of Petey Podcast, we celebrate a groundbreaking victory for the Elyria Robotics Team 44113T of middle school students who made history by earning the State Championship Title at a VEX Robotics tournament held at the Museu...
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Season 4
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Episode 127
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17:27
Steeping Student Success!
In this fun episode, we’re chatting with a group of incredible high school special education teachers who’ve gone above and beyond to create a one-of-a-kind program that’s changing lives. Meet the masterminds behind Pioneer Perk Cafe--...
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Season 4
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Episode 122
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38:03
Ready, Set, Enroll in Preschool!
Join us on this episode for a fun look into our upcoming Preschool Enrollment Fair on Saturday, April 5. Principal Jackie Plantner is our guest on Petey Podcast, and she shares all the great things she and her staff have pl...
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Season 4
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Episode 125
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20:01
Spring Crafting at It's Best!
The Elyria Special Olympics Spring Craft and Vendor Fair is back--April 12, 10AM to 3PM at Elyria High School! This EGG-citing event benefits the Elyria Special Olympics and offers a day of fun for the whole family. Join us as we chat with the ...
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Season 4
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Episode 126
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13:06
The Grad Chat Chronicles: Lilly Parker
Welcome to a new series in Petey Podcast called, The Grad Chat Chronicles, where we reconnect with amazing graduates and hear about their journeys after high school! In this episode, we’re catching up with the incredible Lilly Parker, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 123
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43:46
Basinski's Brain Busters! Episode 1
Northwood Middle School Principal, Mike Basinski, Elyria Schools' trivia champ, is back on Petey Podcast as the host of a brand-new special trivia show—Basinski’s Brain Busters! In this exciting new series, Mike takes the reins and tes...
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Season 4
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Episode 124
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1:02:40
Safety Town Talk with Nicole Edwards!
The talk of summer for the five-year old "littles" of Elyria is Safety Town--a program where kindergarteners discover essential rules for walking, biking, and everyday safety. And no one knows the ins and outs of Safety Town better than Nicole ...
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Season 4
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Episode 121
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34:32
Unifying Sports, Building Friendships!
"If it doesn't fill your heart with happiness, you need to take a long, hard look in the mirror." This wise insight comes from Dan Blatt, the Unified Sports Program Coordinator for the district. We had a wonderful time discussing a whole range ...
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Season 4
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Episode 119
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41:27
Reaching New Heights of Art Imagination
In this episode of the Petey Podcast, we're welcoming the incredibly talented Kathy Pero, an Intervention Specialist from Eastern Heights Middle School! Get ready for a fun chat as Kathy dives into the amazing project her students have been wor...
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Season 4
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Episode 120
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30:55
Kindergarten Roundup 2025-26!
It's that time of year to roundup our little Pioneers for kindergarten! Joining us on this episode of Petey Podcast are the district's gurus of registration: Kristina Mlinko and Kristin Colorito. These two enrollment specialists give us the sco...
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Season 4
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Episode 118
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23:47
On the Mat with Head Coach Paul Felton: Elyria Girls Varsity Wrestling
Elyria Wrestling is recognized as a dominant force in the Southwestern Conference and beyond, and its reputation has only grown stronger with the introduction of a Girls Varsity team. Leading this drive is Coach Paul Felton, who is well-establi...
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Season 3
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Episode 117
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43:06
Yarn Wizards: Crocheting for a Cause!
Hand a ball of yarn to someone who crochets or knits, and watch the magic unfold. A wonderful group of creative women from the Elyria Schools Administration Center has been using their lunch breaks to craft lovely blankets for children at the B...
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Season 3
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Episode 116
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25:33
Free Meals for All Students
Elyria Schools Foodservice Director, Lauryn Smith, and new Executive Chef, Alex Hrvatin, both of Aramark, join us on Petey Podcast to talk school food and nutrition. Aramark recently announced that all students in Elyria City School District ar...
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Season 3
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Episode 115
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40:19
No Cigarettes, No Vapes! School Education Program Attacks Issue
E-cigarettes and vapes are a problem in schools. They are a highly addictive "alternative" to traditional cigarettes. Many times students don't have the facts they need to make informed decisions about using vapes, nor do they understand the lo...
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Season 3
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Episode 107
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31:36
Marty & Amy: Live at the Apple Festival!
We took our show on the road in September to the 44th Elyria Apple Festival held in Downtown Elyria, Sept. 20-22. There, we caught up with Elyria High School Pioneer Marching Band Director, Aaron Putka, Superintendent Ann Schloss, Associate Pri...
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Season 3
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Episode 114
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1:15:24
44 Years of Apple Festival in Elyria!
How we love the sweet, sweet season of fall and all the school fun that comes with it! Here in Elyria, the fall season kicks off each year with the Elyria Apple Festival in September. Like any small-town festival, Elyria's Apple Festival is cho...
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Season 3
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Episode 113
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30:51
Let's Get Physical: Sports Performance with Elyria's Athletes
Please join us in welcoming to Petey Podcast, Jay Banyasz, Director of Sports Performance for Elyria Schools. Banyasz, who's no stranger to Elyria Athletics, kicked off a high-intensity performance program for Elyria's athletes this year. The p...
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Season 3
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Episode 112
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27:11
The Scoop on Elyria Sports with ADs Beck and Siwierka
Petey Podcast guests Heather Beck and Mat Siwierka bring us up to speed on all things Elyria Sports. Beck is the Athletic Director of Elyria High School and Siwierka directs all middle school sports in the district. We always love when these tw...
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Season 3
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Episode 111
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39:57
Meet the Coach! Matt Wilson
The Elyria Pioneers have a new head football coach: Matt Wilson, and he's eager to bring a fresh perspective to the team. Wilson has vast experience with the game and in coaching, and he's already putting innovative ideas and strategies to work...
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Season 3
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Episode 110
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20:22
Elyria's French Connection
From the moment French International Exchange Student, Mathias Jezequel, stepped off the plane and met his host family in Elyria, Ohio, he was swept up in a most wonderful whirlwind of activity--from entering high school, to performing with the...
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Season 3
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Episode 109
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1:08:17
Pioneer Theater: A legacy of learning and the arts
Pioneer Theater (PT) is a gem in the community of Elyria and Lorain County. The long-running children's theater program was established in 1976. This educational summer program teaches children all the way through the age of 18 all aspects of t...
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Season 3
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Episode 108
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51:09
Crayons on Strike! A Reader's Theater Original
From the earliest days of civilization, group dramatic readings have been a thing. Poets, actors and students have taken to the stage to enthusiastically belt out the lines of a script as audiences visualize each moment. Reader's Theater in sch...
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Season 3
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Episode 106
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31:50
